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33  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  145R0 

(716)  873-4503 


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CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


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Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibliographiques 


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10X 


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26X 


aox 


-7 

12X 


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28X 


32X 


9 

itails 
B  du 
lodifier 
r  une 
Image 


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derniAre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
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plat,  salon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  filmis  en  commengant  par  la 
premiAre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaitra  sur  la 
dernidre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbole  — ♦•  signifie  "A  SUIVRE  ",  le 
symbole  V  signifie  "FIN". 

Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  dtre 
filmds  d  des  taux  de  reduction  diffirents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  dtre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  cliche,  il  est  film4  d  partir 
de  Tangle  sup^rieur  gauche,  de  gauche  d  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  n^cessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  mdthode. 


jrrata 
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pelure, 
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6 

'    41st  CoxfiKKSS,  )     HOUSE  OF  HKP1JE.SKNTATIVK.S.     i  Ex.  Doo. 
lid  ScMsion.       )  \    No.  144. 


^.; 


FL'U-SKAL  nsilEHIES  OK  ALASKA. 


,y 


LETTER 


I'ltoM 


THE  SECRETARY  OF  THE  INTERIOR 


IX   ANSWKlt    !(» 


A  resolution  of  the  House,  of  Feliruartf  1>,  1S70,  tmnsmltthuj  a  eopii  of  a 
portion  of  Vincent  Colyer's  report  relatiny  to  the  fur  seid  fisheries  of 
Alaska. 


FKiiitr.\i!Y  IH,  If'Td. — l{flV;rn'(l  to  tlif  Ci»iiiiiitt<'f  <m  (.'oiniiicrco  and onliTcd  to  br  inintcd. 


DKrAltTMKNT  or  TIIK  TNTEHIOK, 

Washington,  I).  C,  Feltruanf  IS,  1870.       » 

SlK  :  r  liiivc  llic  lioiutr  to  triuisiiiit  licrcwith  "m  portion  of"  the  report 
of  Vincent  Colyer,  special  Indian  commissioner,  in  reliitiou  to  the  fur- 
seiil  tislieiies  on  St.  I'iinl  Island,  Alaska,"  wiiicli  contains  the  intbrma- 
ti(»n  calh'd  for  l»y  a  resohition  of  tin'  Ilonse  of  Iiei>resentative»,  of  the 
J>th  instant,  in  the  foilo\vin<>-  words,  vi/  : 

Ili'solnd. 'l'h;it  tlic  Scrit'tiiry  of  tlic  Interior  !»'  ri'(|ncstt'(1,  if  not  iiiconsistiMit  with 
))nl)lii'  inti  rt'st.  to  tiansniit  to  tiii.s  Iionsr  a  t'opy  of  so  ninrii  of  tiir  rrport  of  Vint'cnt 
('(dyer,  Spiiiiil  Indian  ronnriissioncr,  as  rclali's  to  tlic  fnr-si'al  lisln'iicN  in  Aiaxka. 

Very  r«'spectfnlly,  your  obedient  servant, 

J.  I).  COX,  iSceretorij. 
Hon.  J  AS.  Cr.  Hlaixk, 

{Speaker  Ilonse  of  liepresentatires. 


Wasiiin(JTON,  1),  C,  Feltruary  IH,  1870. 
Sm:  In  response  to  the  resohition  of  the  House  of  It«'preseiitatives,  of 
February  0,  ealiino'  ior  so  much  of  my  rep«»rt  «)n  tlu'  Indian  tribes  in 
Alaskti  Territory  as  rehites  to  tin'  fur-seal  ishinds,  I  have  the  honor  to 
respectfully  submit  tlu^  followiufj  extract. 
Sinc«'relv,  vour  obedient  servant, 

VINCENT  COLYEI?, 
Seeretary  Board  of  Indian  Commissioners. 
Hon.  J.  I).  Cox, 

{Secretary  of  the  Interior,  Washington,  I).  C. 


■  ii  « 


'i" 


/ 


FUR-SKAL    FISMKRIKS    OF    ALASKA. 


A  piirtioii  of'  the  npi^rf  of  Viiicnit  Cnlifrr,  sfuviitl  IiuI'kdi  ciimmissiitnn^  in 
irliition  (o  (lic/urncal Jislirriis  on  St.  Vuiil  Isloml,  Ahishi. 

[Kxtnicl.] 

THE   LAXDlNCi. 

W»'  iinivctl  at  the  islaiul  »»r  St.  Paul,  in  tlic  I'.cliriiin'  Sca.nii  the  imaii- 
iiij,'  oltlic  Stii  (>r  October,  lS(;;t.  A  stroii;;'  ciiiifiit  ii)  tiic  wcstwaid  car- 
ii«'(l  lis  (lilt  (d'our  i('ck(Hiin;i  over  twenty  miles. 

As  we  tlropped  anein»r  in  S(»ntliwest  llav,  tlie  wind  <lie(l  away  and 
there  was  a  lijilit  suit'  Incaivinf,  on  the  l>each.  There  is  no  iiaihor  on 
eitlier  St.  Paul  or  St.  (ieoi'i^e's  Island,  and  vessels  have  to  wait  upon 
the  eoiu'se  of  the  winds  to  make  siuM-esslul  landing's.  There  is  ^dod 
anchora;;*' in  several  bays,  and  so  lonj;' as  the  \vin<ls  remain  )av<»rable, 
vessels  ean  load  and  discharji'e  earji'o  without  dillicnlty.  ("aplains  hav«' 
to  keep  watchful  can-,  however,  t(»  ;ivoid  beinj;-  caught  in  unfavorable 
j;ales. 

Alonj;'  the  shore  of  St.  Taul's  Island  the  fur-seals  were  jiathered  in 
^reat  herds,  called  rookeries.  They  were  evidently  excileil  at  tlu' 
approach  of  our  steamer,  and  their  bellowin;^'  resendtled  the  sheep  and 
cattle  in  the  ^reat  sale  markets  neai'  our  larjLi'e  «Mties.  The  noises  were 
varie<l.  The  younj;'  jnips  at  times  bark  like  a  doj;,  tln»uj;h  their  more 
conuuon  ciy  resembles  the  bleat  in  j;'  of  a  hunb  ;  the  older  ones  bellow  like 
jM'ow.  As  their  motion  is  slow  over  the  ni'ound,  and  the  animals  smell 
stronj;',  they  are  not  unlike  a  heard  of  swine,  thouj;h  nuu-h  less  olfensive, 
and  incom])arably  more  attractive  and  interesting'. 

While  the  ollicers  from  the  island  were  assorlin^i  their  letters  and 
exehan;;inj;' congratulations  with  their  friends  on  board  <»ur  steamer,  the 
ca]>tain  lowered  a  (juarter  boat,  and  arian^cd  for  the  passaj;t'  of  the 
interpi'eter,  Colonel  Wickei,  and  myself,  to  the  shore.  On  our  way  thither 
tlie  youn^'  seals  assembled  arouml  us  in  larj;'e  numbeis.  They  a]»|»eare(l 
deli{;hted  at  the  ]»resence  of  the  boat,  the  m(»vement  of  the  oars,  and  thi! 
tlutterinj>'  of  our  United  State's  rev«'nue  lla;",  and  after  looking;  at  us 
with  their  dark  hazel  eyes,  larfic  and  beautiful  as  those  of  the  <;a/.elle, 
raisinji'  their  heads  erect  and  stret<'hin};  their  necks  as  far  out  of  the 
water  as  they  could,  they  would  dive  <lown  only  to  a;iain  ajipear  and 
Take  an(»ther  look.  At  last  they  j;'ot  into  rejiular  order  and  motion  on 
either  side  of  us,  turninv:  s(»mersanlts  like  porpoises,  and,  forming.?  an 
escort,  accoini»anied  us  to  the  shore, 

I'uivATK  I^TKI^VII:^vs  avith  tiie  alki  iks. 

Ilavin;i' jtroviih'd  myself  with  an  interpreter  in  whose  ability,  honesty, 
and  truthfulness  1  could  rely,  while  theollicers  walked  up  to  heathpmrters 
on  the  island,  I  went  into  the  cabins  of  the  Aleutes.  As  this  interprt'ter 
had  ]»reviously  resided  on  the  island,  the  Aleutes  wannly  welcomed  us, 
and  were  at  once  very  fraidi  in  their  (MMninunications.  They  said  that 
they  were  doinj;  about  as  in  y<'ais  <;oru'  by  ;  that  they  were  now  killing 
seals  three  tinu'sa  week — on  .Mondays,  Wednesdays,  and  l''ridays;  that 
they  usually  killed  between  two  and  three  thousand  on  each  of  these 
days,  or  about  ei<>ht  thousand  per  week  ;  that  there  were  at  the  presi-nt 
time  about  sixty  thousand  skins  in  salt  on  the  island;  that  these  skins 
were  stored  in  lour  salt-houses  on  four  ditVerent  jxtints  on  the  island; 
that  one  of  these  salt-houses  was  near  at  hand;  another  a  short  distancM' 
across  the  villa^ic,  on  Southeast  J5ay ;  a  third  about  live  miles  to  the 
northwest  of  the  village,  on  Southwest  liay ;  and  the  fourth  lift  ecu  mih's 


M 


u\4    ^-l 


FlU-SKAL    riSIIERIKS    OF    ALASKA. 


3 


to  \\w  iioitliciist,  (111  N(titlu'!ist  Point.  As  tlic  rcvcmu'  (»llici'i'  in  cliiUf'C 
on  the  isliiiid,  in  toniin;^  iisln)r<>  with  us  in  tJM'  lon<;-lM)iit,  IiimI  said  tliiit 
there  wcic  only  tliirly  thoiisjind  seals  killed  this  season,  and  oidy  tiiat 
miniiter  o!' skins  now  on  the  island,  the  ahove  statement  of  the  Aleutes, 
iloiiltliiio'  \\\\<  :iiriiiMiit.  Mi'i'i-sti'd  niv  :it  tciit  ion. 


Till-}  Ai-Kirn:s. 

There  are  al)ont  two  Imndred  and  titty  natives  on  St.  I'anl's  Island, 
and  one  handled  and  twenty-live  on  St.  (ieorj;e.  Of  the  two  hnndied 
and  tilty  on  S|.  {'aid's,  not  more  than  titty  are  lelied  on  as  active  hunt- 
ers. Tlie  women  assist  lil)erally,  both  in  carry inj^'  the  skins  to  the  salt- 
houses  and  in  wait  in;4  on  the  men,  carrying'  water,  «S;c.  All  the  .Vlentes 
are  nominal  mend)ers  oT  the  linsso-(ii'e(>k  churcii.  A  tew  of  the  more 
intelligent  can  read  and  write,  l»nt  these  are  very  W^w.  \\\  of  them 
are  intelli.m  lit,  peaceable,  ireiierally  industrious,  and  amliitious  to  iin 
prove. 

Thereareahout  forty  liouses,or  huts,  built  of  turf  and  f>rass  on  a  frame- 
work of  timbei'like  the  sketch  o]»posite.  They  are  about  twenty  feet 
loiiji'  i»y  tifteen  feet  wide,  with  roofs  not  over  seven  feet  liiyli.  Tin'y 
resemble  llie  hilts  our  soldiers  erected  tor  winter  (luarters  duriiij;  the 
war.  and.  like  them,  while  warm  and  eonifoit^ible.  are  often  overcrowded, 
and  lack  Itotli  li^lit  and  ventilation.  The  li<;ht  is  admitted  throii;{h  a 
transparent  skin  or  bhuider,  and  the  door-ways  are  usually  so  small  and 
low  that  you  have  to  stooji  to  jiass  throiiuli  them.  The  furniture  is 
scanty  :  a  few  wooden  «'hairs  or  stools,  a  broad  bunk  of  boards  raised 
about  a  foot  from  the  }>'round,  on  which  is  usually  laid  a  mattress  of 
ji'iass  or  straw,  with  a  blanket  or  two  for  sleepini;':  two  or  three  mai- 
motskiii  frocks  from  Onkamok  Island:  some  Mehrin^'  Scii  duck  skin 
shirts;  water-proof  jackets,  made  of  the  iiitestinesof  the  seal ;  a  har|ioon, 
bunch  of  arrows  and  bow  for  sea  otter  Imiitinj;';  occasionally  a  Hint-lock 
musket,  and  a  copy  of  the  K'usso  (ircck.and  Aleutian  Island  dialect  trans- 
laticm  of  St.  .'Matthew's  (lospel,  comprehend  the  whole  of  their  posses- 
simis. 

The  .Vlentes  were  silent  at  tirst  when  1  impiired  if  they  were  treated 
kindly  by  their  employers.  thoii;;h  tlu'y  frankly  acknowled^icd  that 
they  were  better  otf  than  when  under  the  rule  of  the  Iviissian  l"'ur('oin- 
jiaiiy,  and  their  houses  were  improved,  but  as  that  was  a  condition  of 
sertdom  it  was  not  sayiii;;'  much. 

The  price  they  paitl  for  piods  and  provisions  was  not  liij;'h,  coiisidei'- 
iiifi'  the  distance  they  wen*  broujiht,  it  beini;'  about  one  third  iiKue 
than  at  San  I''raiicisc(». 

Several  of  the  children  could  play  skillfully  on  theaeeordeoii,  and  this 
I  found  to  be  a  favorite  instrument  aimuiji'  them.  The  women  are  very 
handy  with  the  needle,  some  of  their  embroidery  and  sew'  •}••  being  as 
«'ood  as  that  done  bv  auv. 


'>9'^r.<)() 


fi:r-skal  fi.sherik.s  of  Alaska. 


MnN(i|'«)I,li;s. 


liir  sciils.      (N't"  AlipclMlix  A.) 

Tliis  ;n»i>iiit'iit   piirtiiilit.v  ill  liivor  (»r  tilt'  two  nhovt- iiiiiiit'd   liriiis  pio- 
vnkt's  with'  sprc:Ml  dissMtisliictittii  on  tli*-  riicitic  coast,  mikI  proltahl.v  ar 
coiiiittMl  lor  :i  j;rcnt  deal   of  tlic   scandal,  so  j^cncial   anion;;-  tlic  p(;opU' 
out  tlicrc.  in  rc;;ard  to  tlic  reported  irre;;idarities  supposed  to  l»e  jirac- 

tifi'il    nil   tliiisi'    i<l:iliil< 


only  lioiise  111  \v!iicli  sUiiis  •.vcic  ston'd.  I  lie  lieutenant  replied  that 
tiiere  was  one  other  at  tlic  other  side  of  the  vjlla;;e.  in  wliicli  there  was 
about  two  thousand  skins.  Colonel  Wicker  then  said.  ••  .\iid  that  is  all 
there  are  at  prc-eiit  on  the  island  .'"  The  lieutenant  answered.  *'  Ves."' 
It  was  then  near  dark  and  we  left  the  storehouse,  took   our  yawl   ami 

WiMil    Mil    llo:il'il   f)ii>  sfo-inior 


went  on  lioard  the  steaniei'. 


went  on  iioanl  the  steaniei'. 

The  wide  discrepancy  lietwecn  these  two  statenu'iits  of  the  lieutenant 
and  the  Aleutian  Islanders  caused  me  to  report  the  same  to  Colonel 
Wicker,  and  that  there  iiii;;lit  lie  no  misiiiiderstandiiiu  I  put  them 
ill  writiii.u  and  ollicially  addressed  the  note  to  the  <'oloiiel. 

It  had  Ik'cu  our  iiiteiition  to  lea\e  the  next  niornin;:,  bill  these  con- 
tradictory statements  caused  the  colonel  and  Ca|itaiii  ILvans  to  reiiiaiii 
another  day  and  make  an  examination  of  the  island. 


THREE    SAILORS  DROWMCD. 

While  we  were  en^iiiyed  in  cxaniiiiin^j  the  two  liouscs  near  the 
villa;;e,  word  came  that  two  vessels,  a  schooner  and  a  bark,  were  hover- 
iii;;- olf  the  island.  This  called  away  Captain  I'-vans.  Colonel  Wicker 
and  myself  eomplctcd  the  ineasuremeiits.  We  had  hardly  linished  this 
[tart  of  our  work  before  we  heard  the  <'ry  that  one  of  our  boats  with  ii 
><'rew  of  live  men  in  it  was  capsi/ed  in  the  surf,  and  we  huiiied  down  to 
file  beach  (uily  to  s«'e  them  stru;;;;liii;;'  lieli»lessly  in  the  surf  an  ei^ilitli 
of  a  mile  away.  Captain  I-^vans  and  a  crew  often  volunleer  Aleifes 
■were  vainly  eiideavoriii';  to  ;;('t  near  tlu'iii  in  the  only  boat  at  hand. 
Above  the  roar  of  the  tuniultuous  seas  could  be  lieard  tiie  piteous  cries 


\ 


k 


im:r-si:al  fisiikuikh  of  af.aska.  o 

of  tli(>  (Intwiiin;^'  iiirii,  iiiitl  tlinc  was  no  iiil<'<|tiiit('  iiifiiiis  at  liaiitl  to  save 
tliciii.  Tlic  Alciitcs.  alter  scvcial  iiariow  cHcaiM's  I'idiii  .s\\ani|iiii;i',  yav«' 
up  tlic  ctVoit,  anil,  rowinjj:  iH-liiiiil  tli*'  It'il^)'  <>■'  rocks  towanl  wli'icli  tlic 
(li'ownin^rncii  \v<>i')>  (ll'ittin;,^  leaped  tVoni  tlieii' boat,  and  at  the  risk  of 
their  lives,  went  thron;;h  the  breakers  and  hroiiyht  tiie  l»odies  ashore. 

Tile  ollieers  of  the  ^^overnnient  and  the  a;;ents  of  the  tiaders  on  the 
island  were  nn  rem  it  tin;;'  in  their  etl'orts  to  save  the  lives  of  the  men, 
bnt  three  of  them  were  dead,  and  we  had  ;;reat  <lillieidt,v  in  r<-storin;;  to 
lite  the  two  others. 

THK    IIU  SKAI.S. 


\\  aier. 

There  were  myriads  (tf  yonny  pups  alon;;'  shore  and  in  the  water,  and 
they  are  most  lieantilid  animals.  They  will  not  alwa>srnnat  your 
ai»pr(»aeh.  tlioii;iii  yciieraily,  if  they  are  between  you  ami  tiie  water,  they 
will  linriy  olV  to  the  water.     We  saw  bn!  few  sea  lions.     Our  ^iuide  in- 

(Vil'ini'd    IIS  tli:it    tlii>\'   tVi>Miii>iifi'il    tlii>  Hurt lw>!i>if  iwiiiit    iiiiiri>     tliiiiii>')i   tlii'ri> 


poll  with  distrust. 
The  skin  of  the  sea  lion,  as  well  as  the   llesh,  is   hi;;lily  jni/ed  ;  the 


rUR-SEAL    FISI1EKIE8    OF    ALASKA. 


6 

rdiiiicr  ibr  covcriii;;'  liidiiikiis  or  ciinot's.  ;iihI  tlic  liiltrr  fur  t'ood,  Tlicso 
liiij^ic  ;iiiitM:ils  ill')'  iisdiilly  Uillcil  uitli  :i  iiiiiski-t  liiill. 

'I'Im-  sciil  pup  is  Imh'Ii  iisiiitll.v  in  tlic  iiioiitlis  ol'  ,liil,v  :iii(l  ciirlv  |)iirl  of 
Aiijjiist.  :ii)iiiit  a  rmtiii^lil  atlcr  tlic  imillicis  liavc  anivcfl  on  ilic  island. 

The  hialfs  ariixc  alMuit  the  niiddir  ol'  .lunc,  and  tiic  vtMilin;:  pn|is  fol- 
low llicir  niotlicrs  tin-  lattci'  pari  of  .Inly.  The  yoiin;^  pnps  arc  said  to 
Itr  in  no  linnv  to  in>  into  tin-  water,  tin-  parents  ha\  in;;  lo  foice  them  in 
at  lirst,  when  their  elder  Itrothers,  the  Itaehelors.  take  ehar;ie  of  them 

•lliil    tifuai     tlliilii     til    •.:\l  flu 


and  teach  them  to  swim 


anu  leaeli  mem  lo  swim. 

In  killini;  the  seal,  the  two  and  three  year  old  male  piijts  are  eliosm, 
lioth  for  the  tpialitv  of  theii'  fiir.  li^^liiness  of  the  pelt,  and  to  preserve 
the  supply.  The  hunters  j;et  hetweeii  the  herd  and  the  water,  which  is 
a  very  easy  thin;;'  to  do,  and  drive  them  a  short  distance  inland  lowai'd 

till'    <!llt  .lllllKliV       ttlllill     llll>\      s;i>llil>t     llll'il'    !lllilll:ll<      !lllll     willl     :l     lllll'll     WMIllll-ll 


On  onr  way  we  passed  a  iinmher  of  the  slanjihter  places.  They  were 
much  iicaicr  the  rookeries  ami  the  shore  than  the  <lescii|»tions,  and  tln^ 
much  talked  of  necessary  |)recaut ions  a;:aiiist  fri;:hlcniii,u  the  animal, 
wtiiild  Icatl  yon  to  suppose.  In  some  eases  they  were  not  a  huiidit'd 
yards  fidiii  tlie  rookeries,  ami  the  dead  liodies  were  w  ithin  easy  reach  of 
the  ramhlini;'  haehelor  seals,  liar^^c  (piaiilities  of  meat  was  wasted,  and 
in  many  insiances  even  the  fat  was  not  cut  olV.  The  meat  of  the  seal  is 
of  excellent  llavor.  I  should  think  tpiitc  eipial  to  miitloii.  (hir  sailors 
eat  il  with  relish,  ami  1  have  mtdonht  that  it  could  l»e  salted,  preserved, 
shipped  in  casks,  and  soon  lind  a  market.  As  if  now  lies  rottiii;;'on  the 
lields.  the  smell  is  most  otVeiisive,  ami  as  one  of  the  slaiiiiliter  pens  is 
immediately  near  the  villa;;*-,  the  inaivel  is  that  it  has  not  hred  a  con- 
ta;;ious  disease. 

In  some  places  where  these  seals  have  been  thus  killed,  and  the  car- 
casses all(»W('d  to  rot  foi'  many  years,  I  should  think  the  soil  would  Ik; 
as  valualtle  a  fertilizer  as  ;;iiano.  The  ;;reat  rank  yrass  j^rows  ahove 
these  slaiiiihter  phu'cs  in  rich  luxuriance.  As  ballast  it  mi;;lit  pay  to 
transport  to  the  southern  ports. 

We  found  tpiite  a  lai^c  lot  of  skins  in  tliis  "StMitlnvest  I'.ay'' house, 
ami  the  uiiitle  assured  ns  that  the  buihliii;;'  had  been  full  and  emptied 
about  a  mcmtli  belbre,  the  skins  liavin;;'  been  carried  on  board  a  steamer. 

The  skins  were  packed  in  piles  with  the  fui'  tuined  inwards,  and  salt 
]»ut  in  between  each  skin.  After  bein<;'  all(»Wf<l  to  remain  awhile,  they 
are  taken  up,  relblded,  and  with  fresh  salt  made  reatly  for  shipment. 

A  laru'c  surf  boat,  made  of  the  skins  of  the  sea  lion,  is  used  to  cany 

tllitlii    i\iit    f.k    til.,    v'l.^^.ilw: 


them  out  to  the  vessels 


ineiii  oiil  lo  me  vessels. 

On  onr  return  we  passed  by  a  lake  of  beautiful  clear,  cold  water,  fntin 
which  the  natives  obtain  the  snj»]»ly  for  thei:'  villa;;*' — nearly  a  mile 
distant.  Half  of  this  distance  they  carry  it  in  boats  by  water.  When 
St.  I'aul  Island  and  its  immense  source  of  income  is  pi'operly  cared  f()r 
by  onr  ;;<»\eriiiiient,  an  a(|uednet  of  siiui»le  construction  should  be  bnilt 
to  convey  this  watci'  to  the  town. 

There  was  no  school  worth  the  name  on  the  island.  The  Russian 
foreman  t»f  tuie  <»!'  the  tratlers  juofessed  to  call  a  class  of  liv(>  or  six 
toyethc!'  at  irregular  hours;  but  1  found  he  thou;;ht  but  little  of  it,  and 


I'lU-SEAL    FISIIF.UIKH    OF    ALASKA. 


f?i 


tlic  iiiitivcs  n'<,'iii(l«Ml  it  of  still  Ii'ss  value.     'I'lirv  asUcd  lor  schools  iiiid 

t»'il('ll('lS  tMlllt'Stlv. 


n'.iriK'rs  r;irMt'sii\. 

The  piii'st  \vli(»  ollicialcs  in  a  neatly  Itiiill  «'liiireli  reeeivesone  liiiihlred 
and  thirty  dnlhirs  iteranniiin.  lie  is  not  in  oi'deis,  an<l  hardly  ninUs  as 
a  deacon  in  theehmu'h.  The  priest  tVoni  Onndaski  occasionally  conies 
up  and  adniinislei's  the  sacrament. 

The  cliiels.  of  whom  theie  are  two.  ;;ct  forty  dollars  a  month  extra  pa,\. 
and  the  worUnuMi  are  divided  into  three  classes  of  ddVereiit  decrees  of 
expertness  or  character.  Thievin;;'  and  misdemeanors  other  than  drunk- 
enness are  nnUiiown  auH)nn'  the  Aleutes. 

On  oni'  return  we  t'oinid  oiii'  j^uide  ;;reatly  a/itated  at  the  |ui»spcct  of 

1]»nnisliiiiciit,  whicii  he  fearetl  he  W(Mdd  receive  from  the  liiited  States 
oHicnds  on  the  islainl  for  showing  us  the  path  over  to  the  icMuoie  salt 
liouse.  We  assured  him  that  his  fears  were  ;;r(Uimlless,  hut  this  did  not 
4|uiet  his  anxi<'ties. 
There  were  s(Mn«'  cattle  and  slu-ep  on  the  islainl,  and  we  foiiinl  j^ood 
^i'ra/.in;;;  plenty  of  }j;rass  as  far  as  we  went  or  could  see.  There  are  no 
trees,  ami  the  hills  are  not  ;;t'nerally  steep.  A  few  of  the  lii;ihest.  at 
a  distance,  I  should  say  wt-re  not  o\er  two  thousand  feet  hijih.  They 
aiijieared  covered  with  verdure  to  their  tojis.  The  cattle  and  sheej)  are 
reported  as  «loni^  well. 

I'l'I'lIJi;    >IANA(iF,Mi;NT   OF   'I'lIF.   F'I'1{  SKAI,    Flsm;i!IKS. 

The  whole  mana^ienu'iit  of  these  islands,  and  the  ohtaininji  from  the 
fur  seal  tisheries  a  handsonn*  inconu'  hy  our  };(ivernnu'nt,  is  a  very  simph> 
alfaii'.  One  capalde  and  Innu'st  man  with  one  or  two  assistants  on  each 
of  the  two  islamls,  and  a  force  of  a  dozen  nn-n  well  arnu'd,  under  tixed 
re^^idalions,  forhiddiiijn"  the  killin;^' of  over  one  hinidicd  and  titty  thou- 
sand sealsaniuially,  restrictin,n  thekillin;;'  lor  the  present  to  the  Aleutes, 
liayinj;'  them  a  liheral  <'om|tensation.  jiroviiliuj;  for  the  sale  of  the  skins 
either  (»n  the  islaml,  at  San  l''rancis«*(»,  (U'  New  York,  and  exact inj,' se- 
vere penalties  for  all  vi(»lation.''  of  the  law,  winihl  rei;ulate  it. 

The  ollicei'  in  charj,fe  should  he  a  first  class  nnin,  with  a  liiieral  salary 
and  nmler  heavy  Ixuids,  as  his  life  will  he  an  isolated  (un*  and  his  temp 
tations  to  dishonesty  jireat. 


wouio  f^eem  pr;iciiciii  iTonoiii,\  lor  oiu  };o\  ci  iiineiii  lo  laivc  cnai,i;e(M  me 
linsiiu'ss.  I^ast  sprin*;'  the  Chandter  of  Conimerce  at  San  Francisco 
api>ointed  a  committee  to  ascertain  the  facts  in  relation  to  the  lur  seal 
lisheries  of  Alaska,  and  report.  This  report  so  plainly  j;ives  the  vi«'w 
which  is  taken  by  a  large  number  of  |)eo])le  in  California  that  I  im-lose 
it.     See  Appendix  II. 

A  letter  fiom  Adolph  ^Fuller,  on  the  juices  tor  furs  lulinn'  in  San 
J-'rancisco  last  October,  1  append,  (',  thoujih  other  furriers  assiiicd  nu' 
that  Mr.  Muller's  prices  were,  altoj^'ether  too  low. 

IJut  to  resunu'  my  narrative.  On  Sunday  the  lOth,  we  buried  (Uir 
three  sailors,  Kickard  liiviiij;ston,  Lewis  (Jarlipp,  and  .lohn  licck,  with 
fuiH-ral  honors,  on  the  island.  The  last  rites  had  haidly  been  cel"brated 
before  three  Aleutes,  of  their  own  accord,  biouyht  forward  three  tall 
wooden  crosses,  and  i>la<'ed  one  at  the  head  of  eacli  of  the  jn'raves. 

That  afternoon  wv  held  a  talk  with  the  Aleutes,  in  the  presence  of  the 
otlieers  of  the  island  and  (»f  the  st<'ainer,  and  were  contirnu'd  in  a  con- 
elusion  which  we  had  arrived  at  long"  since  in  our  intercoursi^  with  In- 
dians, nanu'ly,  that  they  will  not  state  any  of  their  grievances  in  public 


8 


FI.'II-SKAI-    riSIIKHII'.H    OF    ALASKA. 


ill  picsi'iici'   m'  tlir  |M>\vcis    tliiit   ill*'  si't   oNcr  flifiii.     In  lliis  tlicy  ic- 
sciiiMf  most  poor  iiinl  (lc|M-iiih'iit  jM-opI* . 

In  llic  priviilc  interviews  lieid  witli  tliciii  two  dnys  iti'lbrc,  tivc  of  tlio 
AInitfs  (•oiiipliiinril  tlint  tliev  liiul  licrii  l)roii;;lit  t'luin  KiiiJiiit'U  Isliinii  l),v 
tile  ii;;fnt,  ot  tHie  1)1'  the  linns  on  tlie  islaiid,  top  ii  liiniled  period  ;  tliat 
tlie  coiittiiet  Inid  evpiied  some  time  siiiee,  hut  tliiit  tiie  linn  iiad  since 
|)liieed  ii  liniidred  dollars  eaeli  to  llieir  eretlit,  and  now  claimed  to  hold 
them  aiiotliei'  year  a^^aiiist  their  will.  liieutcnant  .Mas|,  conimaiidin;;' 
St.  PanI  and  St.(icor;{'e  Islands,  having  heard  ol'lliis  statement  thi'oii;;li 
Colonel  Wicker,  in  a  letter  to  the  colonel  <leiiied  it,  and  declared  that 
the  Kodiack  natives  had  acquiesced  in  the  arran^^emeiil. 


As  we  were  walking'  down  to  the  sIkup  to  embark,  a  iiwinher  (>('  the 
cliiels  and  head  men  (tithe  Aleiites  ;;atliered  around  me,  and  in  private 
asked  me  al»oiit  oiir  Ibrm  ol  {government,  and  whether  it  was  true  "that 
all  men  were  free  and  e(pial,"  and  whether  they  would  he  allowed  to 
vote  for  the  I'lesidi'iit,  or  the  "'einpenn',"  as  they  <'alled  him,  thinkiiiji'  of 
their  foriner  Itiissian  ;;overnineiit.  I  said  yes,  1  hoped  so.  They  shook 
my  hand  warmly,  and  when  we  left  tlu^  shore  ;;ave  ns  three  slow  but 
very  loud  cheers,  wliidi  our  oltieers  and  men  n'tunied  with  a  will. 

We  then  sailed  Ibr  the  '-Northeast  Point,"  lifteeii  miles  away,  to  make 
the  final  examination  of  the  skins  stored  in  th:it  salt  house.  All  aloii;;' 
this  eastern  shore,  as  on  the  \vest<'rn,  which  we  had  passed  the  day  be- 
fore, myriads  of  fur-seals  were  ('oiixi"e;;ated,  so  that  we  could  not  but 
conclude  there  was  a  lar^e  million  and  a  half  on  tiie  island.  The  surf 
ran  hij;li  as  we  laiMJcd,  ami  the  men,  n'memberiny  their  loss  of  the 
day  ix'tbre,  shook  their  heads  doubtin<;ly  as  they  dashed  us  throu}>i"  it. 
We  tliou;tlit  more  about  the  heavy  taxes  of  tlie  pc(»i»le,  and  whetli.T 
tli«  Aleutes,  (U'  our  oHicers  on  the  island,  were  the  more  accurate  in 
countinj;'  seal  skins.  We  carefully  measiinHl  the  piles  of  skins  in  the 
salt  house,  counted  ii])  the  fij;;ures,  and  found  the  Aleutes  were  ri;;lit. 
Theii'  w«'re  owv  sixty  thousand  skins  on  the  island. 

As  if  reluctant  to  leave  the  threes  brave  sailors  who  had  sacrificed 
their  lives  to  duty,  our  good  ship  Lincoln  "missed  stays,"  turned  her 
face  to  the  island,  remained  immoveable  for  a  few  minutes  and  then 
slowly  obeyiiiji'  her  helm,  steamed  oil'  toward  tuir  home  on  the.  other 
side  of  the  republic,  si.\  thousand  miles  away. 
Faithfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

VINCKNT  COLYKH, 
United  States  f>peci(tl  Indian  VomminHumcr. 


